เข้าสู่ระบบI can hardly believe it. Before my friends can say anything else, I squeal and throw my arms around them both, jumping up and down. Liam and Brian and the twins are the one major thing I’ve missed dearly since leaving Bo’Arrocan, and to find that they’re finally considering living in Ordan full time
“On schedule, believe it or not,” I reply. “The Bo’Arrocan branch is finally running smoothly, and the Ordan location just graduated its first class of seniors. Six of them got full scholarships to prestigious art schools.”“That’s amazing, Iris.” Alice squeezes my arm. “You’ve created something tru
IrisFive Years Later…“Fifty years of marriage, and they still make each other laugh like that,” Arthur says, appearing at my side with two glasses of champagne. He hands me one and clinks his against it, and we watch as my parents twirl on the lawn, my mom throwing her head back at something my fa
“Gee. Thanks,” I manage to laugh weakly. “I’ll see you all next week.”“You most certainly will not,” Arthur, Hunter, and Alice all say in unison, making me roll my eyes.Outside, Arthur’s car is waiting, parked haphazardly half on the curb. He must have driven like a maniac to get here so quickly f
IrisEight months later…“And that’s why the colors on this side of the color wheel are considered ‘cool’ colors,” I explain to the class of children sitting in a semicircle around me. “They remind us of water, ice, and the sky.”I’m demonstrating on a large color wheel chart when a sharp pain rips
And through it all, Augustine’s breathing grows slower, shallower.Then, quietly and calmly, she goes.Her hand turns limp in mine. The steady beeping of the heart monitor flatlines. The doctor steps forward, checks for a pulse, then shakes her head.“Time of death, 10:47 AM,” she says quietly.I br
IrisThe following morning, I’m yanked from sleep by the sound of knocking at my door. Groaning, I roll over and squint at my phone. It’s barely past seven. Who the hell is here so early?When the knocking doesn’t stop, I drag myself out of bed, pulling on my robe as I stumble toward the door.I pee
IrisArthur sets me down gently, his arms lingering around my waist. We’re standing so close I can feel the heat radiating from his body, see every fleck of brown that’s hiding in the depths of his green eyes.My heart is pounding in my chest—I can’t believe he actually did it. He announced our rela
IrisI can’t believe what I’m seeing.Arthur just went on live television and told the entire world about us. He finally did the one thing I’ve been begging him to do since… forever.My hand flies to my arm, pinching the skin there until it hurts. Nope. Not dreaming.This is definitely real.“We nee
Now it’s my turn to stare. “You were at Ordan Central? During those years?”We both fall silent, studying each other’s faces with new awareness. There’s something vaguely familiar about Alice’s features now that I’m looking for it—the shape of her eyes, maybe, or the way she tilts her head when she’







